In a tragic turn of events, a man in Ebonyi State, identified as Mr Onyiuke Nwedeogu, allegedly set himself and his family home ablaze following an argument with his wife early Sunday morning.
The incident took place at Ndiechi Igbeagu in Izzi Local Government Area, where Nwedeogu’s wife, Mrs. Felicia Nwedeogu, and their three daughters narrowly escaped harm.
According to an anonymous eyewitness, the altercation began on Sunday when Nwedeogu had a dispute with his wife, leading to physical aggression.
He reportedly gathered his clothes and left them in the family’s provision shop before visiting his parents in hopes of mediation.
Dissatisfied with their response, he returned home in the early hours, pried open a window protector, and, with a can of motor spirit, set the home on fire while his family slept.
“It was terrifying,” a witness recounted. “He poured the fuel and lit the house with everyone inside.” Mrs Nwedeogu and her children were reportedly rescued through the same window he had forced open.
Following the blaze, Nwedeogu fled the scene in his bus. He was later taken by a man named Elijah to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FETHA), where he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
The family survived with minimal belongings, wearing only a wrapper and children’s pants at their rescue.
DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the incident had not been officially reported to the command yet. The deceased’s body has been taken to the AE-FETHA morgue.
